• by Masha Geller , April 2, 2003

In the first six days after hostilities began in Iraq, the Pew Internet & American Life Project joined with the Pew Research Center for The People & The Press to survey Americans about their views about the conflict, how they were getting news about it, and the impact of developments on them. The report highlights how the Internet has grown as a news source for millions, how supporters and opponents of the war are using the Internet differently and how Americans are using email to debate, express concerns and show their patriotism.

According to Pew, more than three-quarters of online Americans (77%) have used the Internet in connection with the war in Iraq. They are going online to get information about the war, to learn and share differing opinions about the conflict, to send and receive emails where they ponder events, express their views and offer prayers. In addition, a smaller portion of Internet users is using email to mobilize others and gain support for their views about the conflict.

In all, Pew says, 55% of the nation's 116 million adult Internet users have used email in one way or another to communicate or learn about the war and 56% have used the Web to get news, general information, and commentary on countless websites that have war related-material.

About one in seven Internet users (14%) say they are going online more because of the news. War opponents are slightly more likely than supporters to report intensified Internet use. For instance, they stayed online somewhat longer during a typical day in the early period of the war.

Pew also found that the overwhelming majority of Internet users are using TV to get most of their war news. In fact, of all the major forms of media, the Internet is last on the list of ways that online Americans are getting most of their news. Still, the report says, "17% of online Americans say their principal source of information about the war is the Internet and that number is considerably higher than when we asked questions about how Americans were getting their news immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks." At that time, only 3% of online Americans said the Internet was their primary source of information.